World Cup 2026 | Sweden 5 - 1 Tunisia

Premier League stars shine in attack for Sweden

Alexander Isak marked his first World Cup appearance with a goal as Sweden swept aside Tunisia in their opening match of the tournament in Monterrey.

Author  | James Lees

Stadium  | Estadio Monterrey

The Liverpool forward, who has been hampered by injuries since completing a £125m move to Anfield in September, found the bottom corner with an emphatic finish after a powerful run from the left on the half-hour mark.

The goal came after a neat link-up with strike partner Viktor Gyokeres, with the Arsenal forward holding off his marker on the halfway line before sliding the ball into the path of his fellow Premier League attacker.

His strike doubled Sweden's advantage after Yasin Ayari had rifled a shot into the top corner after seven minutes following a careless piece of defending from Tunisia.

The 22-year-old Brighton midfielder, who made his senior international debut while on loan at Coventry City in 2023, declined to celebrate after becoming Sweden's youngest World Cup scorer since Tomas Brolin in 1990. His first international goal came against the country of his father's birth.

READ MORE | Netherlands 2 - 2 Japan

Tunisia reduced the deficit two minutes before half-time when defender Omar Rekik headed home from Hannibal Mejbri's free-kick.

But Sweden responded strongly, with Isak turning provider. He first set up Gyokeres on the hour mark before creating another goal 24 minutes later, when substitute Mattias Svanberg scored the fastest goal by a substitute in World Cup history, finding the net just 12 seconds after coming on.

Ayari then added the finishing touch to a commanding display by smashing home his second long-range effort, and Sweden's fifth, to send Graham Potter's side to the top of Group F.

What's next for Sweden and Tunisia?

Sweden will take on the Netherlands at the Houston Stadium on 20 June while Tunisia will face Japan in Monterrey later than day. 

Tunisia will need to avoid defeat in their next match to regain any hope of qualifying from the Group Stage. Sweden on the other hand will almost certainly be progressing from this stage if they get at least one point from their remaining two matches.